Business
Scripps reports Q4 2025 financial results
CINCINNATI, Feb. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) delivered $560 million in revenue for the fourth quarter of 2025. Loss
About this update from E.w. Scripps Company (the)
[{"type":"text","content":"CINCINNATI, Feb. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) delivered $560 million in revenue for the fourth quarter of 2025. Loss attributable to the shareholders of Scripps was $44.9 million or 51 cents per share. Business notes: The company has launched a transformation plan that targets annualized enterprise EBITDA growth of $125-$150 million by 2028 through cost savings and revenue growth initiatives that will leverage technology including AI and automation to increase the yield on its existing businesses.Financial benefits from the transformation initiatives will begin to flow in during the back half of 2026 and are expected to contribute to a significantly improved leverage ratio by year-end.In the Local Media division, core advertising revenue was up 12% in the fourth quarter. All five top core advertising categories saw significant growth, with the largest category, services, up 20%. For first-quarter 2026, Scripps is expecting continued growth in core advertising because of its local Scripps Sports partnerships and strong sales execution.The 2026 midterm election cycle is projected to garner record-setting spending, with total political advertising forecast at nearly $11 billion and broadcast expected to account for roughly half of that. Scripps, which generated more than $200 million in the 2022 midterms, is well-positioned to capitalize on this spending, with competitive election outlooks in six states where it has a significant presence: Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin.The company is exercising its option to re-acquire 23 ION-affiliated stations that it divested to INYO Broadcast Holdings simultaneously with its acquisition of ION in January 2021. The current aggregate purchase price is approximately $54 million, pending timing of a deal close. The divestitures were required at the time to comply with Federal Communications Commission ownership rules, and any acquisition would be subject to FCC consent. Ownership of these INYO stations would be immediately accretive to Networks segment profit and margin.Scripps expects to close on the sales of its Fox affiliate WFTX in Fort Myers, Florida, to Sun Broadcasting in early March and its ABC affiliate WRTV in Indianapolis to Circle City Broadcasting soon after, pending FCC approval. Proceeds from both sales are $123 million...